Speaker: Donald Yance. Thyroid hormone plays a pivotal role in brain function, protein synthesis, growth and development. It is interconnected with the HPA (hypothalamus/ pituitary/ adrenal) axis and when one is out of balance it leads to other imbalances. The role of diminished thyroid hormone production in breast cancer and declining cognitive function are discussed. Dietary suggestions and herbs include guggul, coleus, poke, pulsatilla and the adaptogenic herbs. The article in the conference book is an excellent adjunct to this lecture.